Speed reducer with detachable drive motor



m 1959 M. T. SCHUMB 2,868,031

SPEED REDUCER WITH DETACHABLE DRIVE MOTOR Filed Aug. 6. 1956 '7 1' flu 87110;

lfarh'mz 9 4m United States atent O F Martin T. Schumb, Milton, Mass., assignor'to The Mur- I my Company of Texas, Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,169

4 Claims. (Cl. 74-425) This invention pertains to speed reduction power units of the kind wherein reduction gearing (usually including a worm shaft) and an end-mounted electric drive motor are mounted upon the same base--this application being a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 509,456, filed May 19, 1955.

In speed reducers of usual commercial type the worm shaft, which is the first element of the reduction gearing, is mounted near its opposite ends respectively, in bearings which are supported by the opposite walls of the gear housing, and the shaft of the electric drive motor is directly coupled to one end of the worm shaft. Commer- "cial electric motors are usually designed with spaced bearings for the opposite ends of the motor shaft, and when the motor shaft is directly coupled to the worm shaft of the reduction gearing it is necessary that the axes of the two shafts be in accurate alignment. Otherwise vibration and rapid wear will occur. Inaccurate alignment and consequent vibration is most likely to occur in apparatus which is designed to make ready removal and replacement of the motor easy of accomplishment by the user of the apparatus, for instance, for repairs or for substitution of a different motor, for example, one of a different type, such as an explosion-proof motor; a totally enclosed motor; a self-ventilated motor, or a motor of a different size. In the effort to overcome this difficulty it has been suggested from time to time that the bearing for one end of the worm shaft might be eliminated-said end of the worm shaft then being supported solely by its connection to the motor shaft. However, while such an arrangement is theoretically good, as a means for reducing vibration, previous embodiments of this idea have involved the employment of specially designed motors and/ or reduction gear housings so that such previous suggestions are of no real value to the thousands of users of already existant speed reducers of types which have become more or less standardized in widespread use, and which customarily provide two bearings for the worm shaft-and make use of a motor of a common commercial type. Moreover, in prior devices of this type, it has been found that as a result of fretting wear between the wall of the socket and the end of the shaft which fits within it, it is difiicult or almost impossible to pull the shaft out of the socket after a substantial period of time.

The present invention has for one object the provision of a speed reducer wherein the gear housing and gearing, with the exception of the worm shaft, may be of customary type and construction, but wherein, by the use of a slightly modified worm shaft and a novel support for the motor, it becomes possible to obtain the advantages re-' sultant from the elimination of one of the worm shaft bearings and to employ a motor of ordinary commercial type, and with provision whereby the motor may readily be detached for repairs, orreplacement by another motor, and with the certainty that when the new motor has been put in place the apparatus will operate without undue vibration or rapid wear. A further object is to provide means for improving the operation of existent speed reduction mechanisms, by the use of a novel support for the motor, said support comprising a part which occupies the opening provided in the usual reduction gear housing for one of the worm shaft bearings, and which is so devised as to provide a firm and adequate means for securing the motor to the housing of the reduction gearing. A further object is to provide an arrangement whereby it becomes readily possible, while using the same gear housing, to attach thereto motors of different sizes without necessitating any change in the gear housing. A further object is to provide an arrangement of this type so designed that, upon removal of the motor from the gear housing, that end of the worm shaft which is normally supported by the motor shaft is so confined that it cannot drop down or move sidewise to any appreciable extent. A further object is to provide speed reduction apparatus having a removable motor and in which one end of the worm shaft is supported by the motor shaft, but with the parts so designed that upon removal of the motor, the lubricant which usually fills or partially fills the gear housing, will not be permitted to escape.

A further object is to provide a speedreducing power unit having a removable motor and wherein the motor shaft and worm shaft are normally substantially aligned, with the end of one of said shafts disposed in a socket at the end of the other shaft and with provision for preventing fretting wear between the shaft and socket wall. A further object is to provide a speed reducing power unit having a removable motor whose shaft is normally substantially aligned with the main shaft of the reducing gear and with the end of one shaft disposed in a socket at the end of the other shaft and having interposed between the shaft and the socket wall a bushing or liner of a material which prevents the shaft from sticking in the socket. Other and further objects and advantages of the inven tion will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a speed reduction power unit embodying the present invention, but with certain parts in vertical section on the axis of the worm shaft to show the internal construction and in particular the relation of the motor shaft to the worm shaft;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section in the same plane as Fig. 1 but to larger scale in order more clearly to show certain details;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of a bracket used for attaching the motor to the gear housing;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the bracket of Fig. 3, viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the motor casing separated from the other parts and viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary axial section through the righthand end of the worm shaft, showing the lining film which coats the wall of the socket on a much enlarged scale;

Figs. 7 and 8 are edge elevations, similar to Fig. 3 showing brackets for supporting motors of other sizes respectively, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the socketed-end of the worm shaft, showing the key in place, and a liner of sheet material installed in the socket.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame of the apparatus. This frame as here shown is of a simple design such as has become more or less conventional-in the trade. This frame is a casting comprising a rigid base of flange 11 having holes .for the reception of anchoring bolts or lag screws-the frame also comprising the upright hollow portion or gear housing 12 which is integral with the basefiange 11 and which has spaced side walls 13 and 14. As. is customary in such apparatus, these side walls have aligned opening may be accomplished, for example, by spraying or swabbing the wall of the socket with a solution of a metallic phosphate such as magnesium phosphate, iron phosphate, or zinc phosphate. After application, the phosphate is allowed to dry, for instance, for aperiod of from two to ten minutes, after which the Molykote is applied as above described. The etching of the wall in this manner insures such a firm anchorage for the Molykote that after the latter has been baked, it cannot be removed except with the very greatest difficulty.

To prevent lubricant from following the shaft 29 into the motor casing, suitable packing P (Figs. 1 and 2) is arranged within the annular flange F at the inner side of the bracket 19.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, motor supporting brackets 19, 19 19 etc. of different diameters may be provided for supporting motors of different sizes respectively, but all such brackets are provided with hubs 18 of the same external diameter, so that any selected bracket may be mounted on the same gear housing.

While one form of reduction gear, including worm 33 and worm wheel 34, is here illustrated, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific reduction gear mechanism employed, but is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of any and all devices of this general type, wherein it is desired to provide for the ready removal and replacement of a drive motor without disturbing the reduction gearing and with assurance that any slight inaccuracies in alignment of the assembled motor and worm shafts will not result in the production of undesirable noise, friction or vibration.

While a specific arrangement for mounting the motor and connecting'the 'motor shaft to the worm shaft and for supporting the worm shaft is here illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. The combination in a speed reducer of the kind which has a rigid frame including spaced parallel walls defining opposite sides of a chamber which houses reduction gearing comprising a worm shaft having thereon a worm which meshes with a worm wheel-one end of the worm shaft having an axial bore which provides a socket for the reception of an end of a motor shaft, said walls of the housing having axially aligned openings, of a diameter appropriate to receive bearings for the worm shaft, and a bearing for one end of the worm shaft housed in one only of said openings, characterized in that the other of said openings houses a hub, in lieu of a bearing, said hub forming a part of a motor supporting bracket,

the hub fitting snugly in said opening and having an axial bore of a diameter exceeding that of the worm shaft and through which the socketed end of the worm shaft passes with clearance, the bracket having at one side an annular fiat face, perpendicular to the axis of the bore in the hub and from which the hub projects, which makes close contact with the outer surface of the apertured wall of the frame in which the bracket hub is housed, bolts passing through the bracket at said flat face for detachably securing the bracket to the last-named wall of the frame, the bracket having at its opposite side a flat face having therein an annular rabbet, coaxial with the bore in the hub, the bracket having a plurality of bolt holes at the region of said last-named flat face, an end-mounted motor having a casing, one end of the casing having an annular rib which fits in said rabbet in the bracket and which is detachably secured to the bracket by bolts passing through said last-named bolt holes, the motor having a shaft which turns in axially spaced bearings within the motor casing, one end of the motor shaft fitting within the aforesaid socket in the end of the worm shaft, means constraining the worm shaft to turn with the motor shaft while permitting relative coaxial motion of said shafts, and packing embracing that portion of the worm shaft which is external to the chamber of the speed reducer frame and which is operative to prevent escape of lubricant by flow along the worm shaft from the chamber in the frame.

2. A speed reducer, according to claim 1, wherein the worm shaft is of a length to extend outwardly through the bearingless opening in the frame wall and into the hub of the bracket whereby, upon removalof the motor, the end portion of the worm shaft will be supported by the hub, and means operative to prevent seizing of the motor shaft in the socket of the worm shaft resultant from fretted wear or corrosion of the shaft or socket wall.

3. A speed reducer, according to claim 2, wherein the means for preventing the motor shaft from seizing in the socket in the worm shaft consists of a bushing of an organic material lining said socket.

4. A speed reducer, according to claim 2, wherein the means for preventing seizing of the motor shaft in the socket in the worm shaft is a lining for the socket consisting of molybdenum disulphide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,907 Cheshire Ian. 10, 1905 1,657,245 Day Ian. 24, 1928 2,246,092 Gilman June 17, 1941 2,459,598 Stott Jan. 18, 1949 2,596,794 Schmitter May 13, 1952 2,622,993 McCollough et a1 Dec. 23, 1952 

